African governments
AMREF is a firm believer in the importance of working alongside the Ministry of Health and other government ministries in the countries in which it works. AMREF has found that partnering with governments can noticeably improve programme sustainability and is essential to the scale-up of AMREF’s best practice models.
- In Kenya, AMREF has played an active role in formulating the present National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP 2005 – 2010) through its membership of key Ministry of Health Committees. In particular, AMREF has successfully lobbied for the community to be considered part of the national health system. The community is now recognised as the first level in the Kenyan health system; and there is greater focus on the community and its relationship with levels II (dispensaries) and III (health centres).
- In Uganda, AMREF is a member of the Health Policy Advisory Committee (HPAC) – the highest technical forum in Uganda, in which all health sector plans and budgets are discussed. AMREF is a member of a number of major national Government-NGO-Donor coordination committees such as the National WATSAN Working Group. AMREF is also a secretariat member of, and host to the Ugandan NGO forum for malaria coordination (MACIS – the Malaria and Childhood Illnesses Secretariat).
- In Kenya, AMREF is partnering with the Ministry of Health to pilot a community-based health information system (CBHIS) model at district level. The Ministry of Health is currently monitoring developments with the intention of integrating the model into the MOH information system. This project demonstrates exactly how AMREF works alongside the government. It helps the government to identify existing gaps and problems in the country’s health system and then develops and tests health models to remedy them.
- In Southern Sudan, AMREF is working with the Ministry of Health to train doctors, nurses, midwives, clinical officers, laboratory technicians and pharmacists. Together they drew up a national human resources plan for healthworkers for 2006-2010, supported by the Department for International Development.